Perry holds fundraising advantage as SD28 race heats up

State Rep. Charles Perry is leading the money race with less than a week until the special election in state Senate District 28.

AUSTIN — With less than a week until the special election in state Senate District 28, Republican front-runner Charles Perry is looking to stay one step ahead of a crowded field, posting a commanding lead in fundraising as his closest competitor goes on the offensive.

Perry was viewed as an early favorite to represent the massive West Texas district in the upper chamber, thanks to his name recognition as a tea party-backed state representative from Lubbock. But Jodey Arrington, a former Texas Tech official and adviser to President George W. Bush, has kept Perry on his toes, raising the most money of the five other candidates in the race and rallying some influential groups and GOP figures to his side.

Campaign finance reports made public Tuesday show Perry still has a distinct advantage over Arrington in the money race. In August, Perry raised about $326,800, while Arrington took in approximately $266,800. Perry entered the final eight days before the election with a war chest worth about $286,900 — more than twice as much cash as Arrington had on hand.

On Wednesday evening, the Arrington campaign sought to throw cold water on Perry’s haul by pointing out more than half of it came from “special interest lobby groups in Austin.” Earlier in the day, Perry said in a news release his latest fundraising numbers speak to the “broad support” he has seen throughout the district.

Arrington is using the homestretch to try to sharpen his contrasts with Perry, launching a TV ad Friday that criticizes Perry for his opposition to a plan to pay for the state’s water system. Meanwhile, Perry’s allies are accusing Arrington of flip-flopping on his support for a Lubbock group that proposed a 1-cent sales tax.

Perry needs to capture 50 percent or more of the vote Tuesday to avoid a runoff. Political observers have said that may be difficult given Arrington’s upstart bid and the six-candidate field, which also includes two other Republicans, one Democrat and a Libertarian.

Early voting ends Friday in the race. It will determine who replaces Robert Duncan, who stepped down earlier this summer to become chancellor of the Texas Tech system.